‘Soraya’ soars at L.A. fest

'Stoning' wins audience award for best pic

“The Stoning of Soraya M.,” directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, has won the audience award for best feature at the Los Angeles Film Festival.

“Soraya M.” depicts the execution of a woman based on a false charge of adultery. The film’s based on a true story recounted in the late Freidoune Sahebjam’s 1994 book.

The awards announcements were made Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the 11-day festival.

The kudo for performance in the narrative competition went to Shayne Topp for Suzi Yoonessi’s “Dear Lemon Lima.”

“Soul Power,” directed by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, won the aud nod for documentary feature and Eva Norvind’s “Born Without (Nacido Sin)” took the audience kudo for international film.

The Target Filmmaker Award went to Sam Fleischner and Ben Chace for “Wah Do Dem” (What They Do), the Target Documentary Award to Juan Carlos Rulfo and Carlos Hagerman for “Los que se quedan” (Those Who Remain).

Target Dream in Color Award was presented to Sam Rubin for “Lipstick”; narrative short film trophy went to Antonio Mendez Esparza’s “Time and Again”; documentary short film nod went to Anna Gaskell’s “Replayground”; and Jeremy Clapin’s “Skhizein” took animated short film.

Audience award for short film went to “Instead of Abracadabra,” directed by Patrick Eklund.